Berlin Diary | A Better Choice than Thai Park

Everyone is probably familiar with Papaya on Kantstraße, a classic Thai restaurant in Berlin with several branches in the west and east. However, I’ve found it particularly disappointing and have been let down multiple times 💥. But ever since this branch on Kantstraße expanded to include a sister restaurant, I’ve passed by several times and checked the menu twice. Yesterday, I just couldn’t resist trying it, and to my surprise, it was delicious! Especially the congee and pork offal soup‼️ This place focuses on traditional dishes and feels more like street food compared to the larger restaurants. I can’t recall the exact numbers for each dish, but here’s what we ordered: 🍈 Grilled Chicken (Half) + Green Papaya Salad - Just over twenty euros This dish deserves a full score! The green papaya salad isn’t overly spicy and has a sweet-sour flavor that makes it hard to stop eating. The fish sauce grilled chicken is nearly impossible to mess up, and the dipping sauce is classic—definitely worth a try. 🍈 Shrimp Congee I loved it! I used to drink a lot of this when I was studying in Thailand. It’s hard to replicate the savory flavor in my own cooking, and they even serve congee for breakfast during the breakfast hours. 🍈 Pork Offal Soup There was a fantastic version of this at Thai Park, but it changed over time. This bowl is filled with pig offal and pig blood, so I advise my squeamish friends to be cautious! It also comes with water spinach, and sipping this bowl feels so comforting. 🍈 Special Hainanese Chicken Rice The special features chicken gizzards and liver, but personally, I think this chicken rice doesn’t compare to the juicy and tender chicken at the Chon Thong across the street. The dipping sauces are also different; this one is thicker and spicier, while I still prefer Chon Thong. 🍈 Grilled Pork Skewers You can order these, but they’re not a must-have. They’re grilled nicely and full of flavor, capturing the essence of Thai street food. They’re great as a snack, but be careful not to order too many, or you won’t finish them. 🍤🍗 Papaya by คุณแม่ (Khun Mae) 🍗🍤 We ordered five dishes for four people and still couldn’t finish them! Including four drinks, it came to 22.5 euros per person 💰. This place is right next to the main Papaya restaurant, and before 6:00 PM, you can order from both places. They also sell homemade chili sauces, curry sauces, fermented fish, pickled fish, and Thai sausages that you can take home to prepare. I’ll definitely be coming back here often, but I still can’t bring myself to like the main Papaya restaurant 👎. #BerlinDiary #BerlinCuisine #Restaurant